The End of an Era...

Our good friend and next door neighbor of over 36 years has moved. He went to an assisted living residence - it makes us sad. No more Don standing at the fence when Biker Dude gets home from work. No more Don to supervise the planting, watering, mowing, raking... it makes us sad. No more Don to pass out suckers to the Grandkids when they come by... sad.

Don has been a great friend, surrogate father / grandfather / great-grandfather figure to our family for many years. I think that he considers Biker Dude to be almost a son to him. They have talked about every subject under the sun over the years and I’m sure have solved many problems in the world. Between the two of them they probably know more of what goes on in the life of an oil field worker than most.

He comes across as a gruff old fart, but in reality is the softest teddy bear I know. He has watched our kids grow up and loved each of them. He’s seen the grandkids come along and has loved them as well. We love you, Don. We’ll come see you and bring you pictures and treats and shoot-the-shit with you as always. It just isn’t quite the same knowing that you’re not just a few steps away. Change is hard on all of us... sad. We love you, Don Stanley.

Always good for a laugh...

Biker Dude, our son, grand-daughter and I were sitting in the living room the other afternoon just visiting when a couple of motorbikes drove by the house. As usual, Biker Dude's head cranked around to look out the window to see who might be driving by on such a glorious day. Mind you, he does this head crank thing whenever he hears a motorcycle even if he's driving his truck, mowing the lawn, showering, breathing, you get it...

About the third time this happen, I yelled, "squirrel!" Biker Dude's head cranked around again and my son and I just started cracking up. Too funny... I guess if you've seen the movie "UP" you'll get the squirrel reference.

Obviously Biker Dude needs to spend some more quality time on his own bike rather than lusting after those who are out on theirs. Get on the road, Dude!

XXXVII - 37 - Thirty-seven

Who'da thunk that Biker Dude and I would be together for all these 37 years? We started out with a couple big hills to climb, but climb them we did. We did it together. It's been a great adventure with so many learning experiences along the way. We've had our share of good and bad, ups and downs, poor and poorer - but we've lived through it and have been rewarded for all that hard work.

I love and respect you for all you are and all you have become over the years. We started out as a couple of kids with so much to learn and so much to gain all at the same time. I think of all that you went through as a 19 year old boy in 1972. You got married, had a baby, graduated from high school, and went into the Army all in a matter of months -- had to grow up fast, huh? In my opinion, you did it in style!

You are my soul mate. My best friend. The best father and grand-father ever. I am so very blessed and it is because of you.

I whine - you listen.
I cry - you listen.
I bitch - you listen.
I ask - you give.
I need - you give.
I'm sad - you listen and give more.

You are my everything. I owe you.

Lost is Found...

Me to Biker Dude: "Since you didn't get a chance to watch LOST last night I recorded it for you. Would you like to watch it while I'm on the computer?"

Biker Dude to Me: "Sure. I'll watch LOST if you'll find it for me."

I laughed so hard I thought I was going to hurt myself! He wasn't even trying to be funny - what a dork!

Selective Hearing....

Biker Dude, you're killing me! Why is it that you can be snoring at the top of your lungs in the middle of the night but claim that I woke you up when I got up and went into the kitchen to get a couple Advil out of the container? Why can't you hear a word I've said when I'm sitting right next to you in the living room? Why do you claim to have the best hearing tests of anyone at work, yet you can't hear me ask you a question sitting across the table. Why can you hear me call you "Ass" under my breath from another room? What?????? Huh????? Could you repeat that? Say again? What??? I give up! (But I still love you in spite of yourself).

No more payments -- it's MINE!!!

Exciting stuff! Payed off the 'stang! It's mine now, free and clear. You know how it feels to have no more car payments? GREAT! I am so 'cited that I can't even believe it! We did it in three years because Biker Dude was generous enough to add his former truck payment to mine after his truck was paid off. Yes, he loves me that much!

Funeral Potatoes

My Mother-in-law passed away last week. Even tho’ she’d been extremely ill for months it seems like the end was so sudden. I know it was a blessing - she’s in a better place now. She’s pain-free, warm, and with her family. I guess we’re never prepared for the end. It’s been a whirlwind week of arrangements, decisions, tears, regret, coulda-shoulda-woulda...

It’s because of my own experience with my MIL that I promised my kids spouses that I would be the best mother-in-law that they’d ever have - I hope that I was and will be able to live up to that promise to the best of my ability. It was a relationship that I was desperate to have be a great one - it was not. I’ve shed many a tear this past week because I’ve been angry at her for so long for not putting her kids and their families ahead of her own needs. Now, it’s over and I must put that behind me. She gave me my Biker Dude and I am so very grateful for that. He’s a decent, wonderful, gentle, thoughtful, loving and kind man. She gave me, my children, and my grandchildren the greatest gift of all. For that, I am in her debt.

The most tender experience of all was that our daughter was willing to fix her grandmother’s hair one last time. Her three daughters couldn’t be there, so I went along. Our Trisha is so brave, so professional, and she was happy to give that final gift to her grandmother. I had the opportunity to be the “assistant”, which amounted to holding the curling iron on occasion. Trisha did a beautiful job with her hair, she would have been delighted. Then I had the chance to put her jewelry on her. My daughter and I had the opportunity to spend a very intimate time with a woman who could have been a huge part of our lives, but chose not to be. She missed out on so much, but maybe we can fix that on the other side.

I need to add that my selfless girl also cut my Dad’s hair in his signature “flat-top” after he had passed. Those last moments are something that will forever be precious to me because I got to share them with my daughter.

I pray that time will heal my sweet Biker Dude. This has been so hard for him and losing a parent is so difficult. He’s dedicated to making sure that his Dad and sisters get through this alright - what a transition for everyone.

Sleep well, Joyce.

A Deck Worthy of Greatness...

Biker Dude has spent the last 3 evenings staining his deck. Big job, but he's always up to the task. It's not a huge deck, but big enough for him to handle. He always says it's really important to keep your deck in tip-top shape. You take care of your wood, protect it and it will give you great pleasure for years to come. He's gotten lots of compliments on his deck over the years and takes a lot of pride in it. Can't blame the guy, it's his DECK I'm talking about!

She said, He said...

She said, "I need a new bra."
He said, "Can you get one that lifts and separates?"

She said, "Does this make me look fat?"
He said, "Define fat."

She said, "What sounds good for dinner?"
He groans.

She said, "Man, the results of your hearing test are terrific!"
He said, "What?"

She said, "Oh, it hurts my back to do this."
He said, "Then don't do that."

She said, "Do you know that I love you more than life?"
He said, "Yes, I know."

by me for Biker Dude on our last anniversary (36 years and counting).

Harley, you've given me a headache dude.

So... Biker Dude has a great buddy - I call him "the girl-friend". (Honey, your girl-friend is on the phone.) If you're a country music fan you're aware of Brooks & Dunn -- well, he's a Ronnie Dunn clone, except with a shaved head and no southern accent. They just went on a 5-day, 1500 mile road trip with six others. Had a great time, and all that good biker stuff. But, I swear if we see him in the grocery store one more time, I'm going to hurt someone.

They speak in the language of "Harley Davidish" -- it's hard for me to understand, but it's understandable enough to know that I really don't give a shit. They meet in one aisle and talk for 20 minutes then go on their merry way... meet in the next aisle and gab as though they haven't seen one another for an eon. This goes on for aisle, after aisle, after aisle. And, we only went in the store for milk and toilet paper. Come on guys, my head is going to explode!

I, Biker Dude, do solemnly swear...

Since April 29th, these are the new Harley accessories that I actually know about. Biker Dude is pretty slippery, so I know he's sneaked a lot by me as well. Besides the 1,000 mile service check, he's gotten a new windshield, backrest, hand grips, dipstick/oil temperature checker thingy, new rearview mirrors, LED tail light, and who knows what the hell else. These were all purchased under the guise of "safety" which I guess make them all legit. Can you say, "cha-ch$$$$ng"? I decided that was enough for the first three months, so I decided to make him swear to knock it off.

I made him raise his right hand. He tried to fake me out by raising the left one - but being the smart girl that I am, I figured that one out pretty quick! Anyway, his right hand was raised and I let him put his left hand on my boob. Seriously. It was the only sacred and holy thing I had nearby. Then he repeated after me, "I, Biker Dude, do solemnly swear that I will not buy any more accessories for my bike until the year 2009." We had to do bare boob (inside the bra) to actually get the swearing done, but he finally did.

You heard it here first and I'm sorry if the visual is way too much for you to handle, but this is my world and I have to live in it! (Then he went out and bought a new Harley shirt and hat that were calling his name... go figure.) Just goes to show you that copping a feel isn't what it used to be -- what's a bare boob worth these days anyway?

Oops, He Did It Again!

Well, here we go again -- fourth bike is a charm??? My sweet Gary finally got his dream bike - a Harley Davidson (a guy thing). He's so excited that the grin is permanently pasted on that face! It's a huge bike with all sorts of bells and whistles - the Ultra - it's black pearl - it's got a kick ass radio/CD player and that's about all the detail I know (it's a girl thing). He's sworn to me that this is the last bike (new or used) that he will ever own. We're going to make a little blood pact to that effect.

H is for the Harley you are riding.

A is for the Asphalt you will burn.

R is for the Road Trips you'll be taking.

L is for the Laughs you're going to have

E is for the fact that you have Earned this.

Y is for the You I'll always love!

Happy "Harley Day", Honey -- you've worked long and hard for this -- hope you'll enjoy the hell out of it!